Does Sliema have a beach?

It has rocky swimming platforms and lido-style beach clubs rather than sandy beaches.

Sliema | Tours, Tips & Things To Do

Known for
Shopping & promenade
Ferry
To Valletta in 10 min
Cruises
Most boat tours depart here
Stay
Sea-view hotels

Sliema is where most of Malta's boat trips depart. It also has a long limestone promenade, great shopping and the best views of Valletta across the water.

Best experiences in Sliema

Hand-picked, instantly confirmed

All things to do

Three Cities & Valletta Harbour Traditional Dgħajsa Boat Tour

Free cancellation

2 Hours Audio Guide

Three Cities & Valletta Harbour Traditional Dgħajsa Boat Tour

4.88(1,490 reviews)

From / person€29

Select date

Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon & Sea Caves Luxury Catamaran

Likely to sell out

6 Hours English, Italian

Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon & Sea Caves Luxury Catamaran

4.95(3,412 reviews)

From / person€38

Select date

St Paul's Bay Scuba Try-Dive & Marine Life Safari

Beginners welcome

3.5 Hours Gear incl.

St Paul's Bay Scuba Try-Dive & Marine Life Safari

4.96(920 reviews)

From / person€65

Select date

Gozo Highlights & Tuk-Tuk Island Explorer with Local Lunch

Small group

7 Hours Lunch incl.

Gozo Highlights & Tuk-Tuk Island Explorer with Local Lunch

4.92(2,180 reviews)

From / person€79

Select date

Sliema is the boat-trip capital

Catamarans, party boats and Comino cruises all leave from the Sliema Ferries area, so it is the easiest base for a day on the water.

Valletta from the water

Harbour views from the Sliema shoreline.

Food, coffee and sunsets

Strand and Tigne Point have cafes and restaurants for every budget. Finish the day on a rocky ledge with an ice cream and a sunset view.

Getting to Sliema

Ferry from Valletta
Frequent ferries run all day and take about 10 minutes.
Bus from Valletta or the airport
Routes 13, 14 and X1/X2 cover most of the day.
Taxi
About 20 minutes from the airport.

Best time to visit

April to October; evenings are best for a promenade stroll.

Insider tips for Sliema

1
Meet your cruise at the Sliema Ferries jetty 15 minutes early.
2
Walk the rocky shore for sunset photos of Valletta.
3
Rent a bike or e-scooter to cover the full promenade.
4
The Point shopping mall is open until late.

How it compares

See how this destination stacks up against the other hotspots.

Destination	Vibe	Best for	Typical price	Crowds
Blue Lagoon	Natural, swim-focused	Swimming & cruises	From EUR 38	Very high 11:00-15:00
Comino	Wild, car-free	Hiking & swimming	From EUR 29	High at the lagoon
St Julian's	Lively, upscale resort	Dining & nightlife	From EUR 35	Busy evenings
Sliema (this page)	Relaxed, local-feel resort	Boat trips & shopping	From EUR 29	Moderate
Valletta	Historic, cultural	Sightseeing & food	From EUR 29	Busy with cruise ships
Paceville	High-energy, late-night	Clubs & bar crawls	From EUR 20	Packed on weekends